Adjustable furniture.



J. A. KIRBY.Q

ADJUSTABLE FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED 11211.11, 1911.

1,044,057. Patented Nov. 12,1912.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH (20.. WASHINGTON D c QRhtmmom; atom w JERRY ALBERT KIRBY, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ADJUSTABLE FURNITURE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed April 17, 1911.

Patented Nov. 12, 1912. Serial No. 621,481.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, JERRY ALBERT KLRBY, citizen of the United States, and resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Furniture," of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to articles of furniture and its object is to provide a desk, table, drawing stand, chair, piano stool or similar piece of furniture with adjusting means whereby its upper surface may be raised or lowered to any desired height.

The invention is particularly adapted to school desks and chairs where it is necessary to regulate the height of same to correspond with the size of the pupils in various grades, as will be more fully described in the following specification, set forth in the claims. and illustrated in the drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper part of a desk showing the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a front view of same. Fig. 3 is a view of one of the depending sections of the desk. Fig. 4 is a view of the upper end of the base. Fig. 5 is a side view of the desk. Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of same.

I have shown my invention as applied to the vertical adjustment of school desks.

In carrying out my invention I provide a desk having a top part and a lower part. The top part is designated by the reference numeral 10, from each side of which depends a plate 11, having inturned side edges 12, to embrace the edges of the vertically extending flat extensions 13, of the base or bottom part of the desk. These vertical extensions 13, on each side of the base of the desk, are separated from each other to provide a space therebetween. Each de pending plate 11, of the top part of the desk, carries a pawl 14:, and a block or guide extension 15, the latter playing in a vertical slot 16, fo med in one of the base plate extensions 13. Each pawl 14, is positioned so as to lie in the space between the vertical extensions 13, of the base, and in the vertical plane of said extensions, and between the opposed edges thereof, as clearly shown, and is pivoted near its lower part so that it is influenced by gravity for the toe thereof to engage teeth 17 formed on the inner edge of one of the vertical plates 13, at one side of the space 18, between the extensions 13. Each pawl is further provided with a knob or handle 19, which extends through a curved slot 20, in the adjacent depending plate 11, of the top. The knobs or handles 19, afford a convenient means for releasing the toes of the pawls from engagement with the rack teeth with which they cooperate,

when it is desired to raise or to lower the desk top. They also afford a convenient means for lifting the top when it is desired to raise the same. 7

To elevate the top of the desk it is only necessary to grasp the knobs or handles 19, and to rock the same. This act causes the disengagement of the toes of the pawl with the teeth 17. Now by lifting vertically on the knobs or pawls the top of the desk is readily and easily lifted to the desired extent. By releasing the knobs or handles the pawls again engage the rack teeth by gravity, thereby holding the desk up at the desired position of vertical adjustment. Similarly, to lower the top the knobs or handles are rocked to disengage the toes from the rack teeth and then the desk top will descend readily and easily by gravity to the desired extent when by again releasing the knobs or handles, the pawls automatically engage the rack teeth 17, to hold the top in the desired position.

The blocks 15, serve to guide the upper part of the desk in its vertical movement up and down, and to prevent binding. These, however, are not essential, as the edges of the plate 11, engaging over the edges of the extensions 13, may serve the same purpose.

It is obvious that the parts may be otherwise arranged and modified without departing from the essential features above described. F or instance, in the'application of the invention to a chair the pawl may be reversed in its relative position, it being then pivoted to the base instead of to the top art. p The base and top of the desk, table, chair or stool, may be made of any suitable or desired material.

The arrangement above described comprises a substantial and easily operated device for securing the vertical adjustment of school desks or the like, doing away with springs or other small and weak parts which would be apt to get out of order and impair its efliciency, and the desired adjustment may be made by even the youngest of school children. This is a most important feature V of advantage resulting from the great simplicity of my invention.

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention, and a construction embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new and useful, and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In an article of furniture, the combination with a base part having vertical separated extensions at each side thereof and lying in the same vertical plane, one of said extensions on each side having rack teeth on the inner edge thereof, of a movable top part having cooperating depending plates at each side, arranged to operate alongside said vertical extensions, and each having a curved slot or opening, and a gravity pawl pivoted to each depending plate, and positioned between and in thevert-ical plane of the associated vertical extensions, the toe of said pawl cooperating with said rack teeth and an operating knob or handle connected to said pawl and extending through said curved slot or opening to form means for; moving the movable top part, said movement operating to simultaneously release the pawl.

copies of this patent may be obtained for 2. In an article of furniture, the combination with a base part having vertical separated extensions at each side thereof, one of said plates on each side having rack teeth on the inner edge thereof, of a vertically movable top part having depending plates at each side thereof, guiding connec tions between saidtop and base part extensions, said depending plates having curved slots, gravity pawls respectively pivoted to said depending plates and located in the space between and lying in the same vertical plane with the associated base part vertical extensions, the toes of said pawls co6perat ing with the rack teeth of their associated base part extensions, and operating knobs of handles connected to said pawls and extending through said curved slots toform means for moving the movable top part, said movement operating to simultaneously release the pawls. n y Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 12th day ofAprilA. D.- 1911, i J a w JERRY ALBERT KIRBY.

Witnesses:

J AMEs F. DUHAMEL, THEo. FRIEND.

fivecents each, by addressing tlie dominissiner of were;

Washington, D. G. 

